Lumpectomy Lounge....let's talk!
Comments
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Snowflake and Judy, Sandy's right. I'm the one whose onco score was only 20. My tumor was 1A, 1.5 cm, and no node involvement. I had already decided not to do chemo until my MO requested the Prosigna test, one of the newer genome tests, similar to MammoPrint, that is specifically for intermediate onco scores. I was shocked when I came back high risk and chemo was recommended. But, here I am, getting ready for my last (yay!) chemo on Monday. As with everything associated with bc, I think the anticipation is often worse than reality. Chemo wasn't fun, but I'm so glad to have the added knowledge and safe guard regarding recurrence 10 years from now. Now I'll be going on to rads in about 4 weeks. With all the help and support from these wonderful ladies, the time has flown by and I don't regret my decision at all. It's all about doing everything we can or should to make sure we get this thing! I can sure appreciate how hard the waiting is. I'm sure many who were here all summer remember me ranting about having to wait and wait for all my tests; I was a nervous wreck! Patience is certainly a virtue BC requires of all of us!
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Judy, so glad you got your MO. It's good that your rads are on hold until everything is decided. Sandy has made a good suggestion about the Mammoprint or Prosignia tests. At 24 you are in an "iffy" area for chemo and those tests might help you make the decision. Do talk with your MO about them.
HUGS!
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Judy - Yea for the new MO!! Glad you have a consult before proceeding and that there is more time until the next step. Speedy healing to you!!
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Dizzy, that's wonderful you are do so well after your 2nd operation! When faced with the unexpected, it's nice to hear from people who've been there and tell you how it is. And the why. Thanks for chiming in and providing more information for our ladies. BTW, where in England? The daughter of a dear friend lives in Finchley Central, London. Originally they are from Cardiff.
HUGS!
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Thanks Sandy, I'll ask her...
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Hi Snowflake67 - Have not been active in a while but I live in Dutchess county in the Hudson Valley, so I thought I would just chime in. GrannieVal
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Snowflake - I had a lumpectomy without clear margins. I was back in surgery one week later so they could do it again. I had no problems with either surgery. The second time was just as easy as the first time. I had pain meds afterwards that didn't stop all the discomfort but did make me not care a hoot about it. My friends got a kick out of seeing me doped up. I hope you are finding everyone's experience helpful. Sending you comfort....
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GladGrannie, welcome! Sounds like you are an old hand at BC. Hope you know that the Lumpy Lounge is the best place to be. Would you help us by filling out your profile and making it public (and put your location there, too, in case someone else lives sort of around you)? Nothing is better than meeting with a BCO sister who totally understands you.
HUGS!
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Peggy, how do I make it public? And also, not sure I filled the info out correctly. I was on another one of the forums, but this one is better and much more active. Thanks for the welcome
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Oh shoot, GladGrannie, I forget. Here it is: Settings. I think this does the trick. I'm quite prejudiced but I think this is the best forum ever! We're kind, welcoming, caring, informative and really funny. It's a very safe place, too. When I lived in Michigan I met with a group of gals from there several times. And just Sunday met with West Coast gals here in Spokane. There's nothing better.
HUGS!
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Thanks Peggy, that worked! Glad you had such a good time with your get together.
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GladGrannie, Yippee! Nice when things work, isn't it? Are you still on Arimidex?
HUGS!
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Snowflake, I also had a re-excision after my lumpectomy. The first margin was just too close for my BS to feel comfortable, so 2 weeks later she went back in and got another small chunk that did have clear margins. It's very common. After all, when they go in there looking around, most of the time there is no definable tumor, just a small collection of cells, sometimes mere millimeters. They know the general size and the area to look in, but unless the tumor is large the tissues look pretty much the same. That's why it can take more than one surgery to get clear margins. I had a few problems healing, but eventually it all healed up and it doesn't look bad at all.
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Poodles,
Thanks for your description... I thought when they went in they would be taking out an actual lump... but the path report was just as your description... it makes more sense now...
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can anyone tell me if your nottinghamom grade 3, will you receive chemo? Oncologist visit is oct. 13.
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TwinsMawMaw, it would be helpful to have your complete information in your profile. That score is a composite and we'd like to know node status, ER/PR status, size of the tumor and any other information. Fill out your profile and make it public via your SETTINGS. I think most of us here have used other tests for determining chemo than that one but I could be mistaken.
HUGS!
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GladGrannie, welcome!
Judy, glad you got a new MO. Hope you can work out a plan that you're comfortable with.
Snowflake, I had to have a re-excision too. My BS told me upfront that there was a chance that she may not be able to get clean margins. It was just as Poodles described it. I had a little more discomfort than 1st but want bad. Had to wait 4 weeks until I had healed from first.
Did anyone see the studies the moderators posted about radiation with DCIS? Is the test they are talking about new or is it the same tests you all have been talking about? Moderators also posted about radiation after mastectomy, but didn't get a chance to read it.
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Welcome Snowflake - where in upstate NY? I grew up in Saranac Lake/Lake Placid area...but lived all over upstate NY too. However, then I moved to CO for many many years (and consider that more of my home state than NY, lol) and now live in Michigan (great Fall season, but miss my CO). My husband's family is still in the Tupper Lake area...and I have a few cousins in Lake Placid. Feel free to PM me if you don't want to post publicly the specific area.
I have a 2nd consult with a different MO (but same practice as my current MO, lol) tomorrow morning. I hope the new MO will provide a bit clearer insight into my options for my whole Hyponatremia crap. Also going to ask about getting my ovaries out - as I would really like to not have anything feeding my cancer (plus Day 2 of period on Day 4 of chemo is NOT a nice combo! blech!).
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ugh met with doctor said one part of my margin is 1mm.
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Snowflake, UGH! That's mighty close.
HUGS!
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New MO suggested I get a sodium drip at chemo session, and then I get blood labs done in afternoon so she can determine if I need to take extra salt pills...or go to hospital for my hyponatremia. She said with close monitoring we should be able to deal with this better than first 2 times, and that I should NOT stop the cytoxin (which was an option from the first MO). Made me feel a bit better going into round #3 next Thursday...even if she did ask me three times in my 15 minute appt if I had the flu shot. lol.
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KDTheatre, sounds like your new MO is on the ball. You must feel more comfortable about going forward. Nice that she had plans to keep your sodium under control. Whew!
HUGS!
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Peggy, I live in the South West, a few miles from the coast. The DH has to go to London fairly regularly because his employer is based there, though he is mostly home based. I keep saying I'll go with him sometime, but I'm more of a country girl really. Some time out in the open in beautiful countryside with my dog helps me to find some peace when all this is crashing through my mind.
I posted about my two lumpies turning out so much better than I expected, or than they told me to expect, because I realise how much time and energy I've spent worrying about things which were fine in the end. So my new resolution is to go into rads and hormone therapy expecting I won't have a problem with side effects, or they'll be manageable. I know there'll be good advice on here. There's not much that hasn't already happened to someone here.
kdtheatre, Dara, Elizabeth, 1step and anyone else doing chemo who I've missed out, you are inspiring, and I wish you all so well on the road you're walking.
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DizzyBee, you have made the right resolution, IMHO. What's that adage about not borrowing trouble? You may sail through rads and AIs/Tamoxifen with no trouble. But if SEs crop up, you'll deal with them and we'll help you out. You're also right that we seem to have experienced most everything here, which makes the Lumpy Lounge a good place to hang out.
Ah, SW England is so pretty. I was there in 1974 and saw just a bit of it - Longleat and, of course, Stonehenge (which was totally open in those days and I have pix of my sons climbing on the stones). I would guess you are a bit further east than that. Your country walks sound very restorative. But London is fun! Have a shopping spree there - hubby won't ever take you again
HUGS!
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Thanks Dizzybee and welcome. My daughter spent 6 months at the University of Bristol a number of years ago. It was her junior year of college and she just loved it. One of her roommates is still her best friend. Her all time favorite place was Bath. Beautiful countryside and your dog sound wonderful!
Kd, confidence in what you're hearing really helps doesn't it? It's just frustrating that sometimes it takes a couple of no to confident experiences till we get there!
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Dara, I've been to Bath.. in 2012, we went to England for the Jubilee and stayed with my niece in Bradenstoke.. we took the tour and went to Salisbury, saw the White Horses.. Chedder, she's not far from Stonehenge.. it was a great time
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thank you mam, I think I have made everything public.
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Dara, my daughter went to Bristol University, and she and my younger son both live there. I live in the county of Dorset, which is due south from Stonehenge, on the Jurassic Coast, a World Heritage site. It is very beautiful, and I wish I could afford somewhere with a sea view! I love Bath and Salisbury, both of them have really festive Christmas markets, I'm a sucker for bands playing carols and lots of fake snow. When I do go shopping, I like to go somewhere with some history and good shops.
My daughter has just come back from 3 weeks in the US and had a wonderful time, she stayed in NYC, Denver and Salt Lake City.
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TwinsMawMaw, thank you for showing us your profile. Really appreciate it. Some of us have CRS (Can't Remember Sh*t). But it is hard to remember everyone's particulars. Where's Atmore? I am not very familiar with Alabama but I've heard of a lot of the towns and that one hasn't ever hit my radar.
Dizzy. What fun those places must be. When you want real snow, you can come visit me! Or Denver - there ya go! You do live in a pretty part of the country.
We're so lucky here to get to armchair travel the world with our BCO sisters!
HUGS!
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Peggy, This is one i took in England... it was beautiful there
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